in the Rebellion, it was too much to
expect that at his age he could cope with so formidable a movement
as the rebellion of eleven States. While I was in Washington I
presented to General Scott a young man, Henry S. Briggs, a son of
ex-Governor Briggs, whom General Scott had known when Governor Briggs
was in Congress. Young Briggs was a lieutenant in the Berkshire
regiment, then on duty in Washington. He wished for a corresponding
appointment in the regular army. This appointment General Scott
secured for him. Afterwards he became colonel of a Massachusetts
regiment of volunteers and at the end of the war he was a brigadier-
general of volunteers.

I left Washington for Massachusetts May 1. I was delayed a night and
until four o'clock the day following at Annapolis, where General Butler
was in command. I had my quarters with him, and during the night the
long roll was beaten. The troops came out, and I waited for the
result, which was the discovery that the call was due to a
misunderstanding of the signal rockets. I left Annapolis in a small
steam tug that came out of the Raritan Canal. We were buffeted about
in the bay by a heavy wind, the captain lost his reckoning, anchored,
and the next morning we found ourselves uncomfortably near to the
Maryland shore.

The next day, May 2, I reached New York and from there I sent the
following letter to Governor Andrew:

NEW YORK, May 2, 1861.

Sir:--I arrived here this afternoon, and I hope to report to you in
person Saturday. I had free conversation with the President, General
Scott, Mr. Seward, Mr. Chase, General Cameron, and Mr. Blair, upon
public affairs. The impression I received from all, except perhaps
Mr. Seward, was favorable to a vigorous prosecution of the war. Mr.
Seward repeated his words of December and February. "The crisis is
over." It is, however, understood at Washington that Mr. Seward
favors vigorous measures. Mr. Chase says that the policy of the
Administration is vigorous and comprehensive, as sure to succeed in
controlling the Rebellion, and preserving the whole territory of the
Union. I will only say now, that I left Washington with a more
favorable impression of the policy of the Government than I entertained
when I left Boston.

General Cameron agreed to authorize Massachusetts to raise two
regiments in addition to that of Dwight. The papers were all made, and
only a Cabinet meeting prevented their completion on Tuesday. I did